Thread: potentially stupid newbie Q's

Welcome Paul.
Check for leaks, both coolant and oil, all over the car.
Check for drivetrain backlash.
Wheel bearing tightness.(as in try and wobble each wheel)
The 300tdi is an excellent engine. They last for ages if looked after. But a dodgy cooling system can bring them undone rather quickly. So check over everything as far as hoses, radiator and water pump for leaks etc.
Change all the filters so she's off to a fresh start. Check when the timing belt was last done. They last 80,000km.
If its a manual, replace the oil with castrol syntrans 75W/85.
Check the fuel sedimenter for water near the fuel tank. Don't try and undo the plastic wingnut it will brake, you need to undo the bolt at the top.
Check the vacuum pump for oil leaks and the fuel lift pump for fuel leaks.
The injectors last 500,000km plus, so they will be fine. All 300tdi's blow a puff of black smoke at start-up so this is normal.
Other than that, check the forum for faults that seem to be typical of the D1. There is some great resources here which will save you a lot of heartache...

You are paying top dollar for a 95 V8 so bargain that price down a bit.

Brianwood,
Thanks for those tips, I will have a good rumage around and look for leaks of any kind.
One quick question, its an auto so how will I notice backlash in the drive train?

garrycol,
I probably wasn't clear in my original post but its the 2.5 diesel not the V8, I will try and haggle down though.

Regards
PaulM

When stationary (foot brake on), while idling go from drive to reverse and back again. Listen for a loud clunk...

Originally Posted by pnjmcc

Hi All,

I am new to this forum and hopefully soon to disco ownership.

I am going to look at my first one tomorrow at a car dealer and I wondered if anyone has any pointers? Its a 95 disco ES 214,000 kms and its up for $9000. I dont mind paying a bit extra for piece of mind that I have some come back on the dealer if it turns out to be a dog.

I have had a quick look though this site and it noted to check the alpine windows (I assume the curved ones in the roof) for rust and under the passenger side carpet and rear boot carpet again for water and rust.

but its more the under bonnet and axel stuff that I should check that I know nothing about having never owned a four wheel drive or a diesel.

Is there anything that I should look out for that could be the symtom of a potential catastrauphic failier. I am pretty handy with a spanner but dont fancy having to strip and re-build due H/G failier or the like.

Finally, any advice on things that i should change straight away for piece of mind? Fluids/filters etc.

Thanks in advance all
Regards
PaulM

First I would ask for the service records, if these are not forthcoming I would get the NRMA inspection, could save a lot of money and heartache.
Second I would be haggling with that price, in real good nick with service records I reckon $7500 would be top money, fair nick and no service records $4000 tops, see if anyone on here has a car for sale in "Markets", Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by brianwood

When stationary (foot brake on), while idling go from drive to reverse and back again. Listen for a loud clunk...

Hey Brian, what does drivetrain backlash equate to? Whats about to break?

Went and had a look yesterday.

It drove ok and ran pretty straight and true, it didn't pull left or right under several goes at hard breaking (stamped on the peddle at 50km/h) but I didn't feel the ABS doing anything then maybe I wasn't breaking hard enough.

So on the plus side
The body work was good as in very few stone chips and no visable rust,
Only a very small amount of rust in one place on each alpine window
Quite a tidy interior (as in its all there and not really brocken or scratched , no stains on the carpet)
No rips in the leather
All 4 windows worked
Small amount of service history
Engine started from cold with no smoke and sounded ok
Headlining not sagging
almost all the electrics worked
alloys in good cond and not scuffed or scratched
Hoses didn't look too bad condition
Changed it from drive to reverse a couple of time and the was no clunk (although there was a clunk when It finally went in to low range, is that normal?)
Aircon worked (but it did seem to lift the engine revs quite significantly each time it engaged)

On the negative
Instument binicle was cracked and loose,
It has an after maket "self installed" stereo disabling the buttons on the dash
only one of the two sunroofs opened fully
its had a smack at some point cause the drivers side H/lamp doesn't line up with the indicator
Both headlight washers are broken
It was very difficult to get the low range engaged so difficlt I couldn't actually do it and it took the dealer several two handed attempts, this was explained as 'normal' because the low range hasn't been used for a long period. is that right? (didnt try the diff lock side though)
There was oil leaking from the rocker cover
There was oil leaking from somewhere else and it was dripping on to the front diff (This has been investigated and was apparently from the oil filter o ring seal ?)
The passenger seat mounts where rusty (hinting at a possible leak)
There was water in the back by the pastic trim when I Lifted the carpet
No proof of cam last cam belt change (they offered to do it for $400)

Over all it was just a bit grubby inside and didn't look all that well cared for.

I really need to drive some others to get a comparison before I make my mind up and I have already decided I am not gonna pay $8900 for it.

Regards
PaulM

Sounds a bit ropey for $8900 mate, especially without the cam belt done. You’ll do better than that if you wait for the right disco to turn up.

My low range can be a bitch to engage. Trick is to switch between drive and reverse just letting the truck roll a few inches and then slip her into Neutral. Usually does the trick. I certainly get a clunk when I hit drive in low range. Worth checking the centre diff lock hasn’t seized as well. Pretty easy to fix but a good bargaining chip if there is a problem.

You really notice it when you pop the aircon on in my 300tdi. Kills power and certainly changes the revs.

Unidentified oil leak could be a number of things. Chances are it isn’t the filter seal. Most aren’t too much of a worry. However, I hear alarm bells with the rocker cover gasket leaking.

I’m always amazed how tatty the interiors are on the disco’s I see. Think us Brits weren’t too savey when it came to sewing a few seats together. It’d be nice to have a leather interior though.

Hope you have better luck soon mate.